At times, you may think that he becomes too detailed and that he cannot be right since he gives predictions for such a long time-frame.

However, having in mind that he draws parallels between the history and the present, you will surely find his thoughts educational.

Now, as we are already aware of what was happening throughout history, we will briefly cover some of the predictions that Friedman has for the time that awaits us.

He believes that China will try to take dominance in the 2020s, but will not succeed in becoming a major world power, mainly because of its location. He also predicts that China’s economic growth will stop because of systematic weaknesses.

He also tackles Russia, will he believes will want the U.S. out of Afghanistan. Russia will also clash with the U.S. and try to break up NATO, which will lead to another Cold War.

When it comes to the U.S. Friedman is certain that the States will prosper in the decade that starts from 2040, but that it will face tense global relationships.

Other countries will experience tense relationships as well: Japan with China and Siberia, Turkey with India, Poland with Germany et cetera.

demonstrations. Expect military clashes between the two nations by 2080.

Key Lessons from “The Next 100 Years”

First Cycle

Second Cycle

Third Cycle

Fourth Cycle

Fifth Cycle

First Cycle

The first cycle takes up the mid-1820s when the majority of the population in the U.S. was English. The small group of educated men who later clashed with less educated pioneers was still ruling the country.

Second Cycle

The 1870s were colored in colors of conflict between small towns and towns, in which cities gained power. This brought new financial policies and a more stable currency.

Third Cycle

The third cycle is shaped by the shift from villages to urban manufacturing centers. During this period in the 1920s, fiscal mistakes culminated into the Depression.

Fourth Cycle

The fourth cycle is situated in the 1970s when the population again started moving from industrial cities to the suburbs, which led to a fiscal crisis.

Fifth Cycle

The fifth cycle has still not been crystallized, since it will happen around the 2020s, when there will be a clash between the permanent migrant class and the service suburb population of workers.

Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

“Future Shock” takes you back in the 70s and allows you to see the future through the eyes of Alvin Toffler.

About Alvin Toffler

Alvin Toffler is a writer, thinker, and futurist. In all of his works, he collaborated with his colleague and wife Heidi Toffler.

“Future Shock Summary”

“Future Shock” is the term Toffler gave to the trauma that happens as a result of going through great changes in a short time.

In his book he explores how people can adapt to the changes they face, and while doing that he establishes a new social norm: embracing change.

Although it was written in the 70s when people were not aware that many of the ways they conducted business and the technology they were familiar with would disappear, his thoughts remain relevant even today.

Today, we are used to this sort of advice, but at the time when Toffler advocated his views, his thoughts were unusual.

He did not know much for the Internet, but he did a wonderful job in predicting the future by forming a new mode of being that he called “The Ad-hocracy” which will transform the world into a “free-form world” of kinetic organizations.

According to his notions, which later turned out to be exact, many functions will disappear, offices will no longer be as necessary, communication will be constant and conducted over different types of media, etc.

He tries to find ways to balance vicarious experiences, which are the things you pay others to do for your enjoyment and non-vicarious experiences, which are the things you do.

As you can already notice, Toffler’s predictions are incredibly accurate.

Finding the balance between these two types of experience has only grown to become more critical as time went by.

Such is the case with most of his questions and predictions, which proves that he was a thinker that was a step ahead of his time, and raised questions that people can relate to even today.

Key Lessons from “Future Shock”

1. A World Full of Many Markets
2. “Invention with Invention”
3. Stability Zones

A World Full of Many Markets

Toffler came up with another prediction that relates to the many markets.

He discusses the emergence of “overchoice” which according to him is tied to the consumer’s increasing focus on individuality.

He further predicts that technological advancements will be responsible for creating product variety, as consumers will reject standardized products and search for individuality.

“Invention with Invention”

Toffler believes that markets can maintain their competitiveness and survive only if they meet invention with intention.

He argues that new technology should be regulated as little as possible, and tries to address all kinds of other aspects that may play a significant role in shaping society.

“Stability Zones”

He also addresses the people’s need for stimuli.

He recommends for people to embrace stability zones in their lives, out of which the strongest one is a long-term, monogamous relationship.

He believes that in the profound connection to another person, one builds the emotional basis from which they can observe the world as it changes, without changing their identity.

Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

It’s pretty standard to be on the verge of giving up, which causes a shift in focus from priority to secondary matters.

We give you a clue on how to overcome such inner treachery and improve your decision-making.

Who Should Read “Decisive”? And Why?

This book unlike most other concerns us all. “Decisive” is a valuable asset for most people who struggle to draw a conclusion and form an opinion about something.

We all have our period of sorrow, but should we stagnate? – Absolutely not! Get up, and do something that you will remember forever.

About Chip and Dan Heath

Chip and Dan Heath are brothers working at Duke and Stanford University.

They also wrote, “Switch and Made to Stick.”

“Decisive Summary”

Organizing your life depends on your ability to make split-second decisions. Although sometimes that seems too hard, it’s pivotal for enhancing your mind, body, and spirit. Such mindset will give you the edge to improve the psychology of decision-making, regardless of how silly the choice may seem at first sight.

Apparently, it’s not advisable to impose your iron will to someone else. Drawing a conclusion is more than taking your pick between two options. Occasionally, we are settling scores with other people, which reduces the ability to take under advisement other alternatives.

For instance, choosing your favorite ice cream can give a mini headache. A vast array of options is equally challenging as having little possibilities. Experts advise that will ultimately apply a bit of flexibility in your decision-making by understanding “opportunity cost.”

What does “opportunity cost” indicates? – It outlines your losses from the judgments you make.

Generally speaking, all the decisions a person makes throughout its life are based on personal experience and cultural, religious, national, and environmental background. Every once in a while, we fail to spot a better solution to our problems.

This process is often referred as multitracking. As the name implies, it actually represents embracing several options, which are performed parallelly or simultaneously. This streamlines the decision-making process and adds to enhancing your skills for coming to right conclusions.

As we stated earlier, options overload can be a huge problem, even for experienced managers. Your ascent from nobody to somebody is undoubtedly a matter of time and quality of establishing your rules. First and foremost, wrapping your head around some issues is not sufficient.

It’s best if you conduct a series of investigations, which show how other individuals handle similar situations. Once you are equipped with knowledge, nothing can hinder your progress. For example, you have a problem to increase sales, but you lack the inspiration to devise a plan that will provide a financial boom.

Just take a quick look at your competitors, analyze their strategies, and ultimately your business will find a way to reach its goals.

As much as we want to believe in the uniqueness of our situation, we often fall into the mediocre category. We must agree that we nurture similar interests, leading to almost identical circumstances.

Just outside your courtyard, you’ll find a person with a matching dispute point, and by observing their behavior, you’ll see why are we like two peas in a pod. Take, for example, the extraordinary Thai Cook – Jack.

He was starting his restaurant business in a traffic area at a seemingly perfect location on 4th Street with plenty of other Thai restaurants nearby. Jack faced a challenge, whether to proceed or to conduct new analyzes since his views were partially biased.

The outside reality implied something profoundly different. Even with the support of the people, he couldn’t invest all his money into something without assessing the situation. What are we trying to convey? – Almost 60% of all restaurants face downfall in the first three years.

Don’t take this as some discouragement, but as an essential piece of information that should be at least considered. It’s equally important to leave your emotions aside, and never to make decision resting on beliefs, and superstition.

Another example – Companies nowadays are fed up with making the wrong calls when hiring staff. So, it’s highly popular to give the potential member a several months trial, to evaluate its impact performance and the value it creates.

A simple solution is to list all the essential milestones and assess their impact, as separate entities and overall. Ask yourself – What is most important to me? – My family, my peace, or work, the answer you provide will serve a higher purpose.

About Richard Carlson

Psychotherapist Rich Carlson is a renowned author, who came under the spotlight after the launch of the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” series, which were translated into many languages.

Carlson is also an expert in stress management.

“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Summary”

Being one step ahead of everyone else sounds like an impossible task. What if you can focus on walking side by side with the latest technology to make your life easier? – In truth, getting a break from all the extra activities can take you to a whole new dimension of understanding how to improve your life.

Streamlining the processes is one way to meet the deadlines, but never sacrifice quality for speed! Are you sure that you’re on the right track? – Let’s find out!

Most people are prepared to do pretty much anything at the cost of their peace. Many reject the idea to relax once in a while to eschew “failure” in the workplace. Applying such attitude will incline you to think that happiness and relaxation is merely a waste of time – because, time = money.

By endorsing conservative and goal-oriented mentality, most of us assume that they’ll quickly reach their goals. Evidently, happiness is a result of hard and disciplinary efforts. Is this reliable? – No, it’s a statement that will lead you to further depression.

Think logically, how can the exposure to never-ending stress and pressure lead to something good? – It’s literally a trick that many superiors use nowadays, in order to squeeze every bit of your energy and passion. Don’t fall for this shallow maneuvering from the “big boys.”

In the light of this discovery, many have awakened and realized that there’s something beyond professional success? If you truly want to live the life of your dreams, you must take full responsibility for your actions and accept the consequences of your decisions.

When you are in that position, it’s much easier to implement your ideas and get things done. In reality, the hardest thing is to start with the new approach. Relaxation will become more natural the minute you realize its benefits.

Don’t think that by looking too serious and important, you’ll get a step closer to your goals. Most people struggle in life because they want to impress others. To avoid such irrational concerns, you might want to stick to yourself and worry about your self-contentment.

What was your childhood dream? To be a soccer player, perhaps a signer, anything that can get you under the spotlight, right? But what is triggering such aspirations? – The habit to impress other people is the biggest culprit that jeopardizes business and personal relationships.

We also tend to cling to bitterness and hatred, instead of resolving any argument peacefully. Such misunderstandings occur when two or more individuals are too proud to enforce a reasonable solution.

Practically, this doesn’t do you any good, and one way or the other, you’ll end up being the looser alongside your colleges or acquaintances.

If you are ready to go beyond such conflicts, don’t be impatient. Probably, if you continue in the same manner, people will avoid contact with you, leaving you stranded on a sinking ship.

Business is not an excuse, for being away from home, and intolerant with your employees. People are frustrated with arrogant leaders, and consequently, the organizational performance may drop below the usual standard.

For instance, if the couriers are slowly delivering the messages throughout the organization, don’t go too hard on them, ask – why are they behaving like that. Most definitely, they are not doing it on purpose, or with a deliberate intention to get you angry.

You must create unique value, and thus improve your reality. It’s crucial to trap whatever is hindering your progress, and develop a new mentality for igniting growth. Many people live under the whip of their master – the mind. Nevertheless, you possess all the necessary features to oppose this influence and take full control over yourself.

Key Lessons from “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and It’s All Small Stuff”

About Robert Rowland Smith

Robert Rowland Smith is a valuable member of the Independent and London Evening Standard and an ex-Oxford Philosophy Fellow.

Smith is a philosophy enthusiast that currently lives in London and lectures ordinary people to apply modern-philosophical concepts in everyday situations.

“Breakfast with Socrates Summary”

Philosophy covers a wide range of ideas such as: How to find my place in this world? Am I a good parent and so forth. The out-of-box thinking mentality shaped our society and brought wisdom into an ignorant world.

Unlike other scientific branches, philosophy is not based on facts, and the one amazed by it will find strength and happiness – from unreliable abstract energies. Surely, first, you have to develop an open perspective and be eager to look for big questions that will satisfy your appetite for knowledge.

Once you become a part of the new consciousness, your inner-self will start reflecting wisdom and real knowledge.

Clearly, understanding consciousness is not a straightforward matter and requires something extraordinary on your part. How can a person be absolutely confident in its methods? – To know whether you are still sleeping or not, all you have to do is analyze the life force moving through you.

Dreamers have an intention, to twist reality in order to make it more suitable for their mental circle. Awaken individuals see the world as it is; transcending tranquility and peace.

In the 17th century, a renowned French philosopher known by the name of René Descartes was restless, in terms of seeking out new mysteries and digging for more in-depth wisdom. His intentions were pure, and he didn’t rely on facts, instead – doubts were his starting point for every theory.

Sigmund Freud appeared on the grand stage at the beginning of the 20th century. As a neurologist expert, he was ahead of its time, conducting psychoanalysis, as a method of studying the depths of the human brain. Based on his findings, Freud asserted that an average human brain is composed of different forces, which struggle for supremacy.

The ego is a reflex “organ” that is mainly concerned with the superficial assets of human life. Living life in a routine, best describes its influence.

The world is a demanding place, and sometimes we are on pins and needles trying to satisfy others. If you can recall such behavior, then you have a good understanding of the next layer called Superego.

Showing appreciation, speaking with kindness, or following some basic behavior rules, represent this segment.

Freud described our morning routine as an illustration of the struggle between these two.

Nietzsche despised the collective mindset and stimulated free ideas that will improve anyone’s rank and lead you to self-satisfaction. His fellow philosopher and Karl Marx later materialized and remodeled these insights to inflict a new meaning to the word.

Marx’s ideas were put to the test in some states in the 20th century.

Karl Marx had a counterpart on the other end. While he believed that the system is designed so that wealthier will increase their wealth, Weber implied that – We all have equal chances of gaining capital, it’s just a matter of will-power and sacrifice.

To drive this point one step further, Weber used a phrase: Work both hard and simple, and sooner or later you will become rich and earn your respect.

People’s habit of passing judgment based on gender is not entirely eradicated. Trying to establish and forge healthy relationship is complicated if you persistently continue to attribute some of the misunderstandings to maleness and femaleness.

If you take men to be angry and dominant, and women emotional and explosive, then you need proper schooling. You have to abandon such shallow thinking if you have an intention to grow.

Why is it so difficult for us to treat one another with respect? Perhaps, there is still some societal stigma attached, but that’s no valid excuse.

Key Lessons from “Breakfast with Socrates”

Buddhist’s secret to calmness

After a long day and exhausting day, who wouldn’t want a bath? In fact, you can improve the atmosphere by adding candles, flowers, and a little bit of instrumental music. That’s pretty much everyone’s perfect ending.

Buddhist ideology has nothing to do with momentary relaxation. The real efforts are pointed at achieving real peace that doesn’t go away – depending on the situation.

Karl Marx’s intentions

After years of observation and collecting of evidence, Marx ultimately formed a judgment – that an average worker has little choice but to remain poor.

His words were not well-received by the elite, however, he later even declared that the oppressed workforce is nothing shorter than a modern-slavery system.

German philosophy

Your current status act as an indicator of your importance in the society or does it? A German philosopher known for its contradictory views remained sober and critical throughout its life.

The 19th-century theorist, Friedrich Nietzsche challenged the community with several mind-blowing questions “What if I had a chance to give this life another turn? – Is this life worth living”?

Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help YouFind – and Keep – Love

Yet again, we feel betrayed for being taught to live in a way that is proven to be fruitless.

In this book, you’ll take a quick glance and hopefully realize what it takes to find true love and be in the presence of such.

Who Should Read “Attached”? And Why?

Only wise people adhere to beneficial and healthy bonds and reject those who cause them pain and sorrow. In the same manner, you are given a choice – only your mindset stands in the way between you and your other half.

“Attached” serve as a model of sincerity, and transparency. As such it’s recommended to each and every one.

About Amir Levine

Dr. Levine is a psychiatrist, author, and neuroscientist who spent his childhood in Israel.

“Attached Summary”

Have you ever felt like your relationship is getting too serious or what some people would like to call – emotional? So instead of being excited about how things unfold, many of us just prefer the space – and no strings attached.

There is rarely a song that doesn’t cover the effects of love. So, why are we so insecure, and frightened when it comes to relationships?

You can talk from sunrise to sunset, even weeks but still not be able to find a reliable definition that can describe the process of creating a special bond with someone. Attachment doesn’t indicate to be dependent from the other but emphasizes that wordless communication between two human beings.

Sharing doesn’t always involve words, but feelings which add to this attachment. If you sense a strong urge to be with someone, on a regular basis, you may be the perfect candidate for reading this modern treatise.

According to experts, managing to maintain contact for a long period requires dedication, commitment, and most importantly sacrifice. This bond can come in so many different forms such as mother-child relationship, or passionate, romantic, and meaningful connection between two adults.

Your partner or the receiver of love expects nothing less than full-support that is vital for holding this union. During times of stress, or emotional breakdown being a source of strength is everything. All it takes is a little push to help your partner getting through tough times.

For instance, let’s assume that you failed your mid-term exam, and no one is there to cheer you up. How would you feel? – Awful, we guess, because you are left on your own. Having someone by your side in similar circumstances can make any situation less frightening.

The need for social interactions and emotional support stretches way back – since the development of the first human communities. Instead of relying exclusively on individual skills, our ancestors used to gather and provide support to one another.

It was the only way for survival back then, which is quite effective also in today’s world. To avoid predators and improve their chances of survival, the people back then, embraced the group and preferred to stick together as a team.

Nowadays, the act of love is probably more sacred and intimate than it was. Unlike our ancestors, we move beyond the primitive nature of satisfying the breeding need, and passing the genes, and turn to a gentler approach.

Likewise, the genetic predisposition to attachment is also determined by our way of life, the habits we developed, etc.

To take this point even further, Amir Levine explains why and how people react in various romantic situations based on their attachment style. Let’s launch this process with one so-called: an anxious attachment style.

Anxious people have a habit of being too analytical and judgmental. They are simply preoccupied with the details of their relationships and have low self-esteem which is logical. Such attitude forces them to be worried about the current status of their relationship.

For example, many people tend to get a bit tense, and nervous if their partner doesn’t answer the call. They immediately suspect that they are ignored and take it a sign of emotional avoidance. Worrying that she/he might not love you anymore is a common fear.

An hour later, you get a call from your loved one, and everything is settled – you even receive an apology. So, most of the times, these concerns don’t reflect the status and seriousness of your relationship, and you should not take them for granted.

Do you know what it means to be emotionally unavailable? Some people fear that their freedom and independence will get endangered if they connect themselves to someone. Instead, these individuals prefer open relationships and keeping a safe distance.

Whether you like to call it an attachment style or emotional attitude it’s not essential. These persons are often referred as self-centered because their interest is superficial, and the feelings of others are secondary.

Key Lessons from “Attached”

1. The uniqueness of relationships2.What is a happy relationship? 3.A long and bumpy ride

The uniqueness of relationships

In truth, not two relationships in the world are identical. So, the pros and cons of each are exclusive and rely on the person’s viewpoints.

Depending on your personality, emotional, religious, social, and cultural background we create a prototype of a perfect relationship.

What is a happy relationship?

Unfortunately, there is not a definition but, according to many, having a compassionate and open-minded partner is the key to it.

Having said that, we feel guilty because once again you are left empty-handed to find your luck.

A long and bumpy ride

Keeping relationships with a self-centered person is a hard assignment, and you’ll need a lot of patience.

They are lauded for their ability to read between the lines and grasp the meaning of the partner’s demands. Not worrying too much is their defensive mechanism that you should take into consideration.

Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

Are facts and concrete information the only solution to reach full discovery of a complex entity – is an intriguing question.

“A Short History of Nearly Everything” is designed to stimulate free-flowing ideas and creative thinking that will aid humanity in a battle for a higher level of wisdom and intellect.

About Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is one of America’s finest authors, with several bestsellers. He is known for his wide range of expertise such as science, travel, linguistics, etc.

Bill earned the respect of the British People by portraying Great Britain in Notes From A Small Island, in a humorous way.

“A Short History of Nearly Everything Summary”

From today’s standpoint, the astrophysicists and other scientists can agree that, almost 98% of the universe was created in less than three minutes. Although the forces contributing to such unexplainable establishment are subjected to lots of discussions, no one is yet absolutely sure for the cause of this creation.

As vast as this universe can be, it’s estimated that the span of it’s close to one hundred billion light years, with no signs of stopping in terms of expansion.

The history of the space leaves even the greatest minds into confusion. Not only that it’s unimaginable in size and scope, but also, it’s beyond the fundamental laws of physics. Astronomers assume that there are approximately 140 billion galaxies, which are actually in our field of investigation.

Figuratively speaking, if these galaxies were representatives of a single fruit, you could feed the entire planet. Probably now, you can understand the big picture, of how enigmatic our “home” is. It’s like being in a cave; even though it’s enormous and massive, you’re not sure what might be hiding or are there any signs of life – other than you, of course.

Science, astronomy, and astrophysics are still on the edge when it comes to this question. It’s best if you are not inclined towards one solution or the other, and perceive things impartially. We haven’t gathered enough facts, and we don’t have enough resources that will give us some valuable insights.

Many renowned scientists have shared their viewpoints, including professor Frank Drake, who declared that humans are probably only 1 out of millions of advanced societies.

Paleontologists by investigating fossils have tried to determine the Earth’s age and how this record can later be divided into epochs.

However, to further understand our advancement and technological enhancement, it’s advisable that you learn the ropes of Newton’s three laws of motion and Einstein’s theory.

These laws serve a higher purpose than merely understanding that one universal body is affected by other/s and vice versa. For instance, thanks to Newton’s revelation, or laws, scientists can even measure the weight of the earth – a task impossible to conduct without this resource.

Albert Einstein realized that time, weight, and pretty much all other concepts are nothing but relative. For some people, this theory is a tough bite to digest but look at this way – To get from one city to another, you may see it would take me about an hour. What if you are traveling with an airplane? i

As you can see, the outcome depends on other factors, which makes your arrival relative.

Studying is not always the route to your “Eureka moment“. That same fact was discovered by scientists who tried to penetrate deep into atomic-mysteries by utilizing the conventional laws of physics.

This theory gives rise to various ideas and facts.

Even if you are not familiar with the importance of the quantum theory, it’s suitable to be aware of how it messes with people’s minds rather than providing clarity.

This branch delivers two subcategories linked to laws of nature: First, it includes the subatomic world and the other is reserved for the noble universe.

Let’s return to our home-base

In general, a vast portion of our planet is entirely inhabitable, and inaccessible to humans. According to one study, nearly 99.5 % of the Earth’s belongs to the wilderness, where you cannot find signs of civilization.

When it comes to land, only 12% is habitable, leaving 88% to mother nature.

Key Lessons from “A Short History of Nearly Everything”

1. This kingdom belongs to the bacteria 2.Einstein’s revelation3.The number of Earth’s residents

This kingdom belongs to the bacteria

Often referred as “sick,” germaphobes are strict when it comes to bacteria. Washing your hands, and bathing will not give you the desired effect because they’ll always surround you.

Take this fact under consideration: An average human has at least one trillion bacteria only on its skin.

Einstein’s revelation

The theory of relativity, however, struggles to manipulate the sequence of the subatomic world, and the quantum theory, on the other hand, returns the favor, by not being adequate to clarify concepts like weight, time or gravity.

The number of Earth’s residents

It’s totally ignorant to declare that we have many different species living on this planet. Such inaccurate statement produces little value.

The truth is, a large portion of these species are still undiscovered, and it’ll take time to identify all 3 – 200 million creatures.

Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

Who Should Read “A Guide to the Good Life”? And Why?

When planning to take a break from all the noisiness, what’s the main incentive for such endeavor?

“A Guide to the Good Life” will provide insights for all passionate wisdom-seekers. So, if you are really into understanding life, and all its features, – you’ll have to endorse the Stoic’s vision and perspective.

Make sure that you’ve got all the tools at your disposal.

About William B. Irvine

William B. Irvine is a Stoic expert, an author and professor at Wright State University based in Dayton, Ohio.

He is the author of several books such as On Desire and A Slap in the Face.

“A Guide to the Good Life Summary”

Let’s look at things hypothetically and imagine that you are a Greek kid living in the age of Alexander the Great (around 300 BC). For instance, since a young age, you cherished a passionate attitude towards studying and sensed the pull to receive a top-class education.

If that same “temper” arises nowadays, you’ll probably end up in some college, only to get a better understanding of the market. Instead of going for profits, in those days, people were eager about philosophy and everything associated with the soul.

The Stoic School was a representative of the education center in ancient Greece – concerned with the progress from a philosophical standpoint.

In the same manner, modern-day philosophers have a hard time trying to understand life. With thousands of obstacles occurring each day, placing focus on one thing is a sensitive matter.

Stoicism is anything but dead. By appearing in another form, it sure aides each person to find its route to clear insights. It makes a distinction between an absolute form of asceticism and hedonism; and supports none! The Stoics are middle-walkers, they make their own pat, following no extremes.

Over the years, they developed a formula for happiness and prosperity. How’s that possible? In order to enjoy yourself, one must share understanding and compassion for its surroundings. One of these methods is referred as negative visualization.

So, what would an average Stoic do, if he must take a road? A simple way to endorse their way of life is by underlying things under your control, and outline matters beyond your reach and influence. They, unlike other wisdom-seekers, emphasize aspects, which have an impact on their happiness – and go no further.

We as humans during our evolution thought that living by nature’s basic rules is not enough for achieving true wisdom. However, unlike other creatures, we’ve been given a gift to be rational, and logical.

Social links are an integral part of our daily growth, and as such beings, we have a responsibility towards the community. So, the foundation of Stoicism is actually built on right actions, and compassion. Their primary concern was the laws leading to a full-scale virtuous life.

In general, such emotional glimpses are associated with empathy and love. Respect towards your parents is also a valuable asset in achieving inner satisfaction. The meaning of life is yet to be understood, due to the fact that philosophers reject the notion that life as a concept exists. Nevertheless, it’s best if you digest first these ideas and then move to the next level.

Why would someone deliberately prolong suffering? In some circles, making yourself uncomfortable manifests your devotion and hunger for spiritual knowledge. Think of it this way, basketball players train hard so that when matchday comes, they can give an excellent individual performance.

So, instead of thinking about the end-goal, stay focused and remain sharp to handle any danger. Let’s assume that you are in an exam hall. You feel stressed and worried that you’ll not be able to pass. As you can see, these mental distractions are causing a shift in focus and reduce your chances to perform better.

Make sure that you stick for simplicity, and take one step at the time, the outcome is irrelevant.

As we mentioned earlier, thinking about things that are beyond your concern is a counter-effective measure. For instance, you cannot impose an opinion and expect an honest response. Regardless of your efforts, there are a handful of matters, which are not manipulative.

Being aware of this, will give you the upper hand, and make your self-sufficient or independent.

Key Lessons from “A Guide to the Good Life”

1. The recipe for getting a good grip on reality2.Real leaders advocate for uniqueness3.Stoic’s understanding of happiness

The recipe for getting a good grip on reality

Generally speaking, a little tough time serves a higher purpose, and it’s highly linked to the ability to absorb balance.

Second, when you finally get out of that painful circle, you’ll feel a sense of gratitude and sincere appreciation, which is crucial for a good life.

Real leaders advocate for uniqueness

In the modern day’s madness, it seems almost too natural being dependent on another person’s opinion.

Your push and strive for admiration is like bargaining with your freedom and allowing other parties control your life.

If you want to be enslaved, this strategy will surely give you a hint or two.

Stoic’s understanding of happiness

According to them, investing in your mental state is much more beneficial than being too concerned with worldly pleasures.

Don’t become a victim of your own mindset!

Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

“The Wonder Weeks Summary”

It is natural that you are worried, but a crying baby is not that bad of a thing.

No, it does not mean that it hurt itself, that its tummy hurts, or that it is hungry. More often than not it means that it is developing.

Let us explain.

During the first year and a half of their lives, babies go through regular developmental leaps, which prepare them for the world. In other words, in these months they experience changes in the way they perceive the world and themselves in it.

So, when a baby cries, it is a signal that it is in the process of learning something new.

These changes happen according to a pattern for all babies, with slight variations in the exact timing. To make it clearer, we will present you a brief timeline of the changes you might expect.

Let’s start with the first cry.

When the baby is first born, it cries because it is no longer in the warm, liquid environment present in the womb, to which it is accustomed.

In the first few weeks of their life, newborns react to noise and movement, but they do so automatically.

However, around the five-week mark, the baby starts exercising more control over its senses.

You will surely notice the way that it looks at you is no longer an automatic response, but a deliberate effort to see you. This newfound awareness of the sense is both exciting and fun for babies, as well as it is tiring.

Around seven to eight weeks, babies begin to differentiate their bodies from the environment. In other words, they discover that they can move parts of their bodies deliberately. And once they do, they will start exploring everything that is within the range of their hands.

Additionally, they will begin trying out different positions using each part of their bodies, including vocal cords and facial muscles.

Now you understand where all of those hilarious faces originate from!

Around week nineteen, babies learn movement sequences. As a result, they will start exercising fluid motions and repetitions. At this stage, babies also begin to connect sounds in words.